• 1/2.5 inch 24.7mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • 36.00mm - 360.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 25.00mm - 500.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
  • Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon SX110 IS
SX110 IS vs SX120 IS
Canon SX230 HS
SX230 HS vs SX260 HS
Successor: Canon SX130 IS
SX120 IS vs SX130 IS
Canon SX280 HS
SX260 HS vs SX280 HS
General
Model Number: SX120 IS SX260 HS
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Mid-Sized Compact
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $249.99 $349.99
Street Price: $214.97 $479.99
Date Available: 2009-09-15 2012-03-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 10.7 oz (302 g)
includes batteries
8.1 oz (231 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.4 x 2.8 x 1.8 in.
(111 x 70 x 45 mm)
4.2 x 2.4 x 1.3 in.
(106 x 61 x 33 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:    
Effective Megapixels: 10.0 12.1
Sensor Format: 1/2.5 inch 1/2.3 inch
Sensor size: 24.7104mm2 (5.76mm x 4.29mm) 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.58 microns 1.54 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:    
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 3648 x 2736 (10.0 MP, 4:3),
3648 x 2048 (7.5 MP, 16:9),
2816 x 2112 (5.9 MP, 4:3),
2272 x 1704 (3.9 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
4000 x 2664 (10.7 MP, 3:2),
2992 x 2992 (9.0 MP, 1:1),
2816 x 2112 (5.9 MP, 4:3),
2816 x 1584 (4.5 MP, 16:9),
2816 x 1880 (5.3 MP, 3:2),
2112 x 2112 (4.5 MP, 1:1),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
1600 x 1064 (1.7 MP, 3:2),
1200 x 1200 (1.4 MP, 1:1),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
640 x 360 (0.2 MP, 16:9),
640 x 424 (0.3 MP, Other),
480 x 480 (0.2 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG (EXIF 2.3)
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.3 10.3
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
1920x1080 (24p)
1280x720 (30p)
640x480 (30p/​120p)
320x240 (240p)
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MOV (Image: H.264; Stereo Audio: Linear PCM)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens, 10 elements in 9 groups (including 1 aspherical element) Canon Zoom Lens
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 36 - 360mm 25 - 500mm
Focal Length (actual): 6 - 60mm 4.5 - 90mm
Zoom Ratio: 10.00x 20.00x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (W) / f/4.3 (T) - f/8.0 f/3.5 (wide) / f/6.8 (tele) - f/8.0
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
5 cm to Infinity
2.0 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 1 - 50 cm
0.4 - 19.7 in
5 - 50 cm
2.0 - 19.7 in
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 4x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detection with Face Detect AF, Single AF point, Selectable AF frame size: normal, or small Contrast Detect with Face Detection; Face Detection, 1-point AF (fixed to center)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type:    
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 461,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 10.0x
Top Deck Display:
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):    
Minimum ISO (native):    
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*3200 in special scene mode) Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200; up to ISO 6400 in Low Light mode at 3MP resolution
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Custom Auto, Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Underwater, Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 1/2500 - 15 sec 1/3200 - 15 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot (spot metering at center), Face Detect AE Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot (center), Face Detect AE
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Easy, Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, ISO 3200), Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Night Scene SCN: Portrait, Smooth Skin, Smart Shutter, High-speed Burst HQ, Handheld Night Scene, Low Light, Underwater, Snow, Fireworks, Stitch Assist; Creative Filters: Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Monochrome, Soft Focus, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Color Accent, Color Swap
Self Timer: 1 - 30 seconds 2, 10, Custom seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Auto w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Safety FE, Slow Synchro Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 50 cm - 4.0 m (W), 1.0 cm - 2.5 m (T) (1.6 - 13 ft. (W), 3.3 - 8.2 ft. (T)) Auto ISO: 50cm - 3.5m (W), (1.0 - 2.0m (T)
Max Flash Sync: 1/500  
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps  
External Flash Connection: n/a n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No No
Uncompressed Format:    
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MOV (Image: H.264; Stereo Audio: Linear PCM)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No Yes
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No
Remote Control Type:    
Connections (extended): DC input Mini HDMI
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 2.07 2.08
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.3 10.3
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):   10
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.80 seconds 0.52 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.93 seconds 0.43 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.066 seconds 0.079 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 3.1 seconds 2.0 seconds
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power:   3.5 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 370 shots 230 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: 2 x AA Proprietary NB-6
Usable Battery Types: Alkaline disposable or NiMH rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 2 x AA Alkaline disposables 1 x Proprietary NB-6 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): No Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM Canon software suite
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS Windows, Mac OS
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face and Motion Detection, Smart Auto, Intelligent Contrast Correction. Optical Image Stabilization, DIGIC 5, 1080p Full HD Movies with stereo audio and optical zoom, Smart Auto, Face ID, GPS logger and tracker. Available in black, green or red.